Russian hacking to influence Brexit vote is “highly probable” says Labour MP Ben Bradshaw
It is “highly probable” that Russian hackers attempted to influence the result of the EU referendum, according to a Labour MP.
Ben Bradshaw, the MP for Exeter since 1997, told Parliament that he suspected Russian hackers had followed similar tactics to those used the US election campaign.
However, he admitted that proof for his claim was hard to come by, saying: “We don’t have the evidence for that yet – but it is highly probable.”
Read more: US intelligence agencies believe Russia intervened to help Donald Trump
The CIA has said there is convincing circumstantial evidence the Russian state intervened to try to make Donald Trump President. Evidence of a similar intervention in the EU referendum has not been forthcoming.
Bradshaw’s comments came in a debate on the situation in Aleppo, where the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are backed by Russia.
He said: “I don’t think we have even begun to wake up to what Russia is doing when it comes to cyber warfare. Not only their interference now proven in the American presidential campaign – probably in our own referendum.”
Bradshaw, who campaigned for the Remain campaign during the referendum, also mentioned reports the German secret service are concerned Russian hackers are targeting next year’s elections.
Tory Steve Baker said: “We've come a long way from the Cold War if it's now Labour MPs who invent Russian subversion.”